New NFL kickoff rule: Strategies, return averages, and more to expect in 2024 with drastic new change

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — The NFL has adapted a modified version of the XFL Kickoff Rule for the 2024 season that intends to bring the kickoff back to the game of football. While the league will be eliminating the traditional kickoff, the modified kickoff is designed to put the ball back in the returner’s hands. 

The XFL had 341 kickoff returns in 2023 with their kickoff rules while the NFL had 587. The XFL played just 40 regular season games to the NFL’s 272, as the XFL averaged 8.5 while the NFL averaged 2.2. 

Simply put, the kickoff is coming back. 

“We have a player going to the Hall of Fame as a kick returner, so it’s pretty ironic this happens to be that year this play is coming back,” New Orleans Saints special teams coach Darren Rizzi said at the NFL Annual Meetings Tuesday. “We look at the modifications we made with this hybrid kickoff and we’ll see some drastic differences.”

My colleague, John Breech, wrote a detailed breakdown of the new rule, including the alignment and touchback rule and you can find that here. 

Here’s what to expect with the new kickoff rule:

The strategy

The new kickoff rule is going to make the bottom of the roster prevalent for special teams, making roster spots 48 to 53 crucial. Teams using a 4-3 or 3-4 defense will play a role in how their special teams are constructed. 

“When you watch the XFL, there are different kinds of body types out there,” Rizzi said. “I don’t know how much the body types are going to change, some teams may choose to go a little bit bigger and soem teams may choose to go a little bit faster. 

“I think that will be kind of the exciting part of the play, to see teams play it out. Teams will play with it in the preseason to see what their best options are. It also makes it exciting for guys at the bottom of the roster, those spots are going to become a lot more valuable for guys fighting for those core positions. Roster…

Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/new-nfl-kickoff-rule-strategies-return-averages-and-more-to-expect-in-2024-with-drastic-new-change/

Author : Jeff Kerr

Publish date : 2024-03-26 16:57:52

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